Hopes high for Murray, says McEnroe

Britain's Andy Murray plays against Croatia's Marin Cilic during their ATP Aegon Championships match at the Queen's Club in London on June 16, 2013. John McEnroe believes that Murray is ideally placed over the next fortnight to win Wimbledon for the first time and end 77 years of British failure at the tournament.
(AFP/File)

LONDON (AFP) – John McEnroe believes that Andy Murray is ideally placed over the next fortnight to win Wimbledon for the first time and end 77 years of British failure at the tournament.

The Scot lost to Roger Federer in four sets in the Wimbledon final last year, becoming the first British man to reach the championship match in 74 years.

But he then defeated the Swiss ace for Olympic gold on the same grasscourt shortly after and went on in September to end the long British wait for a grand slam title at the US Open.

Now after reaching the final of the Australian Open in January and sitting out the French Open due to a back injury, the Murray focus is fully trained on Wimbledon where McEnroe thinks he can go all the way.

Speaking in Edinburgh, where he is playing in a Champions of Tennis event, three-time Wimbledon singles champion McEnroe said: "I think it very well could be Murray's year.

"I was beginning to wonder if he could do it because these other guys are so great but he really stepped up with the Olympics and then he dug deep at the (US) Open to win that.

"He's as confident as he's ever been, he's handled the pressure well for the most part, so, when the going gets tough, he's got to step up."

"The thing is that he's playing great," said McEnroe.

"He's positioned himself well having not played at the French, I think that will help him. And obviously winning Queen's is a nice positive for him.

"The draw is tough for Murray, there's no doubt about it. Tsonga in the quarters is tough because for me he's the guy best positioned outside of the (big) four to win.

"And then he'll have to play one of Rafa or Roger in the semis and then another guy that's not too shabby - Djokovic - in the finals.

"So he's got his work cut out for himself, no doubt about it. But, having won a slam and won the Olympics, now he's really comfortable on this court and on the biggest stage."